She Outshines Them All

She Outshines 321

In the dim light, Athena watched the organizer, the Messenger.

Their average build was hidden beneath a flowing black robe that concealed their hands and feet, making it impossible to determine their gender. What struck her was the tall, authoritative presence they commanded, exuding the calmness of a general ready to face any challenge.

From the top of the stairs, the Messenger scanned the gathered participants and spoke in a voice that had been altered to be indistinct. “Welcome, everyone, to tonight’s gathering. As tradition dictates, please hand over your phones before we dive into our game. After that, pick a seat and help yourselves to your favorite desserts and drinks.”

Athena shared a silent glance with Matthew before she handed her phone to a masked attendant.

The attendant placed their phones into clear plastic bags, sealing them with tape, and reminded them, “Remember the number on the seal. Just say it when you want your phone back.”

Athena noted that the seal bore a lengthy 14–digit number. The attendant gave them only a brief look at it before swiftly taking the bags away.

It confirmed her thoughts: this gathering was solely for those sharp–minded.

She and Matthew exchanged another look before making their way to the round table.

As they walked, the “Baharia Lady” brushed past her, whispering, “Make sure you come in first and fulfill my request. I’ll reward you handsomely.”

Athena was here under the name Daniel.

Both she and Matthew had pinned on the brooch Zoe had given them. It was clear that the “Persian Lady,” or Zoe, recognized them as her allies immediately.

Athena merely nodded in response.

When she reached the table, she noticed that each seat was spaced 3 feet apart, and each had a number on the back. The only exception was the seat labeled “O,” which had a 1.5–meter gap on either side and was the closest to the stairs. It was obvious that this spot was saved for the Messenger.

That wasn’t hard to guess.

The Messenger waited until everyone was seated before descending the stairs and taking the “O” seat. Their voice now carried a playful tone as they said, “You’re all geniuses, and there are three reasons to be here: to play games with smart people, to win rewards, and for mutual benefit. Since your time is valuable, I won’t waste it any longer. Let’s get started.”

An attendant placed a box on the table.

The Messenger continued, “Inside this box are pure gold cards, each weighing 0.2 pounds.

“Each card comes with a question. You’ll draw in order, and if you answer correctly, you keep the card. If you get it wrong, others can jump in, and the first correct answerer gets the card. Your performance will count towards your overall score.”

Athena nodded slightly, impressed by how well the Messenger understood people.

Not every genius was wealthy, and this kind of reward would certainly entice many in the room Sure enough, as soon as the Messenger finished speaking, some participants couldn’t contain their excitement.

The Messenger said, “We’ll start with the participant in seat number 1 on my left.”

The attendant placed the box in front of the first participant.

They drew the first card and handed it over.

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After reading it, the attendant announced, “This question needs to be answered in the dark, so I’ll turn off the lights temporarily. Don’t worry, they’ll be back on shortly.”

With that, the candles at the center of the table flickered out instantly.

Everyone was engulfed in darkness.

Athena suspected that the chandelier above was rigged with an automatic lighting system—no one had to light or extinguish candles manually.

The attendant announced, “Here’s your question: How many people walked through the villa’s entrance earlier, and how many are seated at this round table? Exclude the Messenger, who’s in seat ‘O. Seat 1, you have one minute to answer.”

The person in seat 1 took a moment to think, about 20 or 30 seconds, then finally answered, “There were 68 people who entered the villa, and 42 of them are seated here.”

The attendant asked, “You still have time. Do you want to change your answer?“.

Seat 1 responded confidently, “No, I’ll stick with it.”

The attendant said, “I’m sorry, but that’s incorrect. Anyone else can answer now.” Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

The moment those words were spoken, several buzzers lit up, only milliseconds apart.

The fastest one came from seat 35—Athena’s seat.

Without a second thought, Athena answered, “There were 66 people who walked through the villa’s door, and 41 seated at the table.”

The attendant confirmed, “That’s correct. This gold card is yours.”

The chandelier above flickered back to life.

A few attendants walked over, placing the gold card from seat 1 into a small box in front of Athena.

Then the attendant turned to the next person, “Seat 2, it’s your turn to draw a card.”

Seat 2 pulled a card and read the question aloud: “Do you believe in ghosts? What’s your reasoning for either believing or not believing? It’s an open–ended question, and others can share their opinions too. The most persuasive answer will be determined by a vote.”

Seat 2 didn’t hesitate and shook their head. “I don’t believe in ghosts. Ever since humanity’s been around, there have been countless stories about ghosts, but there’s no solid evidence proving they exist. Now, if I saw one myself or found some real proof, that would change my mind.”

Immediately, someone jumped in, “I do believe in ghosts, but not the creepy supernatural kind from myths. I think they’re just projections of beings from higher dimensions appearing in our world.”

Another participant added, “Ghosts could be real, but maybe they’re just leftover information from someone’s life, only showing up under rare circumstances.”

Then someone chimed in confidently, “I’ve seen a ghost myself, but you can’t catch them on camera.”

The discussion turned into a full–blown debate, with these brilliant minds arguing back and forth for nearly fifteen minutes.

Athena and Matthew stayed quiet, just listening to the exchange.

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When it came time to vote, the majority agreed that seat 2 had the most reasonable answer, earning them a gold card.

Athena had voted for “don’t believe.”

Next up was seat 3, who drew a question that sparked even more interest: “Do you believe in aliens? What’s your reasoning for believing or not believing? This is also an open–ended question, and others are free to give their opinions. The most convincing answer will be chosen by vote.”

Seat 3 answered with certainty, “The universe is way too big for humans to be the only intelligent life. I believe aliens exist.”

This question grabbed everyone’s attention even more than the ghost debate.

Several participants jumped into the conversation, and the discussion lasted nearly twenty minutes.

They referenced everything from astronomy and physics discoveries to historical records and archaeology, even diving into philosophical and theological arguments to back their views.

Athena remained quiet again.

But when it came time to vote, she cast hers for “believe.”

Most of the participants voted the same, and seat 3 won a gold card.

Although the debates for seats 2 and 3 took up a good amount of time, the following questions were answered more quickly.

“Here’s 6 million dollars in cash. How would you turn that into 20 million, and how long would it take you?”

“You have three minutes to spot the discrepancies in these accounts and explain how to fix them.” “You’ve earned 20 million through gambling. How would you launder that money?”

“You’re playing rock–paper–scissors with another person. There are five rounds, and each round has three moves…”

These questions weren’t exactly tough for the average person, but while it might take someone ordinary an hour to crack them, these people could solve them in just a few minutes.

That’s the hallmark of a genius—someone with a high IQ.

Finally, it was Matthew’s turn—seat 34.

Up until now, he had kept quiet, never jumping in to answer, and Athena understood he was doing it on purpose. He was giving her the chance to take the lead because he knew how much she wanted to shine in this competition.

Matthew’s card read, “Analyze the professions of the participants in seats 5, 42, and 27.”

A buzz of whispers filled the room as everyone began to discuss.

Athena found the question fascinating.

The participants weren’t just in disguise; many of them were quiet and kept to themselves, barely interacting with anyone else. Trying to figure out their professions would be a challenge worthy of a seasoned detective.

Matthew lowered the card and glanced at the man in seat 5, who sat diagonally across from him.

The middle–aged man in seat 5 wore a thick raincoat. His fingers were intertwined on the table, but as soon as he caught Matthew’s gaze, he instinctively shoved his hands into his pockets and turned his head slightly to hide his face.

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After a moment of observation, Matthew began, speaking deliberately, “You’ve been pretty lively during this gathering, so I can tell this isn’t your first time here. Yet you didn’t have any alcohol; you opted for coffee instead, which hints that your job likely prohibits drinking.

“Most people don’t choose to wear raincoats in everyday life, and they certainly don’t help to conceal one’s figure or looks. So it seems like you chose it because it’s comfortable or perhaps it’s just a habit for you.

“Your hair is natural, no dye in sight. You’re not wearing any jewelry, but you do have a fake mustache. That suggests you usually don’t have one, which could be either a job requirement or a personal choice.

“You’re not wearing contacts, and your vision seems fine, which indicates you take good care of your eyes.

“You picked desserts that are low in fat and calories, showing you’re health–conscious and mindful of your diet.

“You also answered questions about human anatomy and surgical procedures, meaning you’re probably an expert in that

area.

“Your hands are well–groomed, your nails neatly trimmed, and the way you used your knife and fork to cut the bread was very precise—your fingers are quick and agile.

“That’s all I have to say. I believe you’re a doctor.”

Seat 5 turned to him, a bit reluctant but ultimately admitting, “You’re right.”

Next, Matthew focused on the man in seat 42, who was bundled up in a hooded puffer jacket. “You’ve got noticeable dark circles under your eyes—you must be burning the midnight oil.

“You blink a lot, and your glasses are heavily prescribed, indicating your eyes are overworked and you probably suffer from dry eye syndrome.

“When your hands are on the table, your fingers tap lightly as if you’re typing on a keyboard.

“When you came in, you headed straight for seat 42 without a second thought.

“You have a knack for numbers. In the entrance test, you chose a math problem, and in the living room, you went for a puzzle game.

“You’re sipping an energy drink.

“There’s a tablet hidden in your jacket, and you’ve got earbuds in your ears.

“I’d say you’re a programmer.”

Seat 42 looked taken aback for a moment, then broke into an enthusiastic grin. “Wow, you’re observant! You must know your stuff. Want to go a few rounds later?”

Finally, Matthew turned to the man in seat 27, who had a noticeable belly. He simply said, “You’re involved in some shady business. I won’t elaborate.”

All eyes shifted to seat 27.

The man in seat 27 wore a large mask and remained silent.

The Messenger interjected, “I’d say seat 34 did an outstanding job. Here’s a gold card for you.”

Now it was Athena’s turn.

Then the Messenger announced, “Please watch a video.”

10:00

An attendant standing next to the Messenger turned a large computer screen towards the group and pressed play.

The video opened with a door marked “174.”

A middle–aged man reached for the doorknob, pushed it open, and stepped into the room.

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Behind him followed four others: a young boy in a white shirt holding hands with a girl with a ponytail, a thirty–something guy wearing glasses, and a young woman with long hair in a striking red dress.

Inside, the room had the typical layout of a guest room.

To the left, a closet was stocked with towels and pajamas.

To the right was a bathroom featuring a washbasin, a toilet, and a shower stall.

The main room held two single beds, a sofa, a table, and a television, with a kettle and some cups set on the table.

As soon as the woman in red stepped inside, she made a beeline for the bathroom, shutting the door behind her, the sound of running water echoing in the silence.

The girl with the ponytail wandered over to the window, gazing out at the pouring rain, and complained, “Great, no cell signal, and it’s just pouring. Five of us stuffed into one room? There’s no way we’ll sleep well. If I’d known, I would’ve skipped this dump altogether.”

The boy in the white shirt tried to reassure her, “Hey, it’s just for one night. We’ll manage.”

The middle–aged man chuckled, “I’ll take the sofa tonight. You girls can share a bed, and the guys can take the other one. It shouldn’t be too cramped.”

The girl with the ponytail muttered, “This place is ancient and small, way up in the mountains. Who knows if it’s even safe at night…”

The guy in glasses added, “Don’t worry. If anything goes down, the three of us guys can protect you two ladies. You’ll be just fine.”

Grabbing the remote, the girl with the ponytail flicked on the TV. “Let’s just watch something to kill time.”

The screen lit up.

She flipped through the channels, frowning, “What’s the deal? There are only three channels! It’s either the news, some shopping shows, or online classes. And this one’s about calculus—how dull!”

The middle–aged man suggested, “Why don’t we watch the local news?”

The boy in the white shirt swiped the remote from her. “Let’s do a shopping show instead. I wanted to buy some health supplements for my parents, and you guys can doze off while we watch.”

Everyone chuckled.

Just then, the girl in the red dress emerged from the bathroom, smiling. “The hot water downstairs should be ready. I’m going to grab a bowl of instant noodles and bring some back for you all.”

She reached for the doorknob, opened the door, and disappeared from view.

The middle–aged man then walked into the bathroom and closed the door.

The boy in the white shirt and the girl in the ponytail settled on the sofa, leaning into each other, sharing whispers and

secrets.

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The guy in glasses glanced at the clock and said, “It’s only a little past eight. I’m going to see if they have any playing cards downstairs. If they do, we can all play together.”

He opened the door and stepped outside.

The video ended there.

The Messenger then said, “Among these five people, one is a ghost, and one is a murderer. I’ll play the video again, it’s done, you need to point out immediately who the ghost is and who the murderer is.”

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